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“Hey guys.” Lucy says coming into the living room where all four kids are. “Have you thought about what you want to be for Halloween this year?”
Ava looks at her siblings and then back at Lucy with a small grin on her face. “Yes.” She says standing up. Daisy, Levi and June stand behind her. Ava is only nine but she’s the ring leader of her siblings.
“Yes.” She says. “I’m going to be Angela.” Lucy nearly chokes on her tongue as she stares at her daughter.
“Excuse me? Aunt Angela?” She asks. “Now why—”
“I’m going to be Celina.” Daisy says proudly. “She’s pretty.” Lucy blinks at her. And then turns to the twins who are both grinning with identical smirks.
“Please—”
“I’m going to be daddy.” Levi says. “I’m grumpy cop grrrr.” Ava bursts out laughing.
“That is so good buddy!” She says. “We gotta nail the deep voice.”
“I’m going to be you mommy!” June says excitedly. “Can you believe it?” Lucy runs her fingers through her hair. She has heard of stranger costumes. She’s just not sure how they are going to pull this off.
***
“I’m grumpy cop!” Tim hears Levi say from his room. He turns to look at Lucy who looks amused.
“Um—”
“He’s going to be you for Halloween.” She says causally like it’s the most normal thing in the world. And maybe it is for their kids. “He’s practicing being you.”
“I’m sorry? He’s being me for Halloween? And what is June being you?” He asks.
“Bingo.” Lucy says. “There’s also a Angela and Celina in the mix.”
“Oh my god.”
“They are going to the station’s Halloween party.” Lucy says. “Dressed as us.”
“That’s um—” Tim says and he doesn’t know what it is except strange. “That’s great.” Lucy shakes her head a little.
“Levi—I mean Sergeant Bradford you have to lower your voice.” Tim hears Ava says. “Like this—I am grumpy cop ho ho ho.”
“Is she trying to be me or Santa Clause?” Tim asks. “I do not sound like that.”
“Careful.” Lucy says patting his arm. “Don’t let them hear you say that.”
***
“Mom! Do I look like Aunt Angela?” Ava asks coming up to Lucy. She has a wig on, a shirt and a blazer with jeans. She has fake detective’s badge on her hip.
“Identical.” Lucy says. She hadn’t told Angela that Ava would be dressing up as her. She figured she wanted it to be a surprise.
“What about me mom?” Daisy asks dancing into the room. Lucy has gotten Daisy a cop uniform and made her a little badge. She had a hair in a bun and was grinning at Lucy.
“Nice to see you Officer Juarez.” Lucy says. Daisy beams at her.
“Now I need to see daddy and me.” Lucy says and on cue the twins run into the room. Lucy had made one of Tim’s old metro shirts so it would fit Levi and then got him some cargo pants and boots. He also had a fake badge.
“You look just like daddy!” Ava says admiring her brother. “That’s kind of weird.” Levi beams at her. June also was in a outfit that matched Lucy’s style.
“I look like mommy!” June says.
“You sure do!” Daisy says giving her sister a smile. Ava turns to look at Tim and Lucy.
“Who are you suppose to be?” She asks. Tim and Lucy exchange a look.
“Ourselves?” Lucy says. “All the good costumes are taken.” Ava frowns and then starts walking around them.
“Who else is left?” Daisy asks. “Dad could be Smitty.”
“No.” Tim deadpans. “That is not happening.”
“You have to dress up!” Ava says. “We will look silly if we walk in there looking like this and you two aren’t dressed up.”
Lucy thinks it’s a little too late for that but she doesn’t dare say anything. “Oh I know!” Ava says jumping up and down. “You could be objects!”
“What?”
“Dad could be handcuffs because you know daddy cop.” Ava says. Tim stared at her and Ava grins broadly. “And mom could be a taser or something.”
“I’ll make the signs!” Daisy says. Ava nods and scrambles after her. Lucy turns to look at Tim who looks confused and concerned.
“I guess this is what happens when we don’t have costumes.” She says. Tim sighs softly.
“Why do I have to go as handcuffs?” He asks. Lucy grins at him and she can’t help but lean in a little.
“Daddy cop.”
Tim’s answer is a groan. And Lucy has a feeling this will be an interesting night.
***
“Aunt Angela!” Ava runs up to her before Tim can stop and it’s not like he could if he tried. Ava has so much energy right now she’s like the energizer bunny. Angela looks down at her, and raises her eyebrows.
“Hi Ava. Who are you suppose to be?” She asks. Tim realizes he didn’t call and warn Angela or Celina there would be mini versions of them at the party.
“You!” Ava says grinning. “I’m you aunt Angela! Detective Lopez!” Angela looks at Tim and then the other kids standing behind her. He can tell she’s trying not to laugh.
“Wow!” She says. “This is quite a crew. Daisy you are—”
“Celina!” She says excitedly. “Officer Juarez!”
“I see.” Angela says still grinning and then she turns to the twins. June is clinging onto Lucy because even if she was excited at home—her anxiety always goes up at first. Levi however was front and center. “You must be Sergeant Bradford and Detective Chen.”
“We are!” Levi says grinning up at her. “I’m grumpy cop! Grrrr.”
“Levi! I told you to stop doing that!” Tim says shaking his head at his son. Levi just grins and steps back to pull June up next to him.
“You sound just like him buddy.” Angela says. “It’s going to be hard to tell you apart.
“Thank you Aunt Angela!” Levi says puffing out his chest. Angela turns to examine Lucy and Tim.
“And you are—”
“Handcuff and a taser.” Lucy says. “Tim refused to be Smitty.”
“Well I’m going to feel very safe at this party.” Angela says shaking her head. She walks off and Tim sees Daisy looking around the station.
“I want to find Celina to show her!” She says. “Can we go and find her?” She looks up at Lucy who nods.
“You and Ava can.” She says. “Stick together. Okay?” The girls nod and they race off into the crowd.
“Come on Junie.” Levi says pulling on his sister’s arm. “We need to show our Sergeant and detective skills.”
“Hold on buddy.” Lucy says and Tim watches as she bends down in front of June. “Junebug it’s okay. You are with us and your brother.”
“I’m detective Chen mommy!” June says. Lucy looks up at Tim who just shrugs.
“My bad Detective Chen.” She says. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Will Sergeant Bradford be with me?” She asks. Lucy turns to look at Levi who is standing like Tim with his arms crossed his chest. He has a frown on his face.
“Tim.” She says quietly. Tim looks at her and she tilts her head towards their son. Tim rolls his eyes a little. And then Levi does the same thing.
“Yes.” Lucy says biting her lip from laughing. “Sergeant Bradford will be right next to you. Right Levi?”
“Yes mommy.” Levi says. He reaches out to take June’s hand. “I’m grumpy cop grr.”
“Now hold on son.” Tim says. He bends down in front of him and straightens his shirt. “Being me isn’t only about being grumpy. You have to observe the room, and make sure it’s safe.”
“Yes sir!”
Lucy rolls her eyes and she nudges June forward. “You got this Junebug. Just stick close to your brother.” The twins walk off and disappear into the crowd, the only reason they let them go off is because they know everyone here. There are eyes everywhere and they wouldn’t be too far behind.
“Mom!” Daisy comes bouncing up to her. Ava and Celina are behind her. “Celina loves my outfit. She says I look just like her!”
Lucy throws Celina a appreciative look and then bends down to hug Daisy. “Hey the twins are wandering around. Can you keep an eye on them?”
“Yes ma’am!” Ava says and she hurries off with Daisy right behind her.
“They will be fine right?” Lucy asks turning to look at Tim.
“Angela is also keeping an eye on them. Big Angela not the mini one.” He says. Lucy laughs a little and gets closer to him. He wraps his arm around her shoulder and she sighs.
“Careful I might tase you.” She says. Tim looks down at the paper on her chest. It just said taser.
“I can arrest you.” He says holding up the handcuffs the girls gave him and when he tried to point out he had his own handcuffs they just glared at him.
“How did we end up being the objects?” She asks. And really it is amusing, their kids are off being the stars of the show while they are stuck being handcuffs and a taser.
“No idea.” Tim says. “But I was not going to be Smitty.” Lucy rolls her eyes a little and then looks up.
“Speaking of—” She says just as Smitty and the twins approach them.
“Daddy!” June says. “Look how much candy I got.” She holds out her bucket and grins up at him. Tim bends down and straightens her shirt out.
“Very good Detective Chen.” He says. June beams at him. Tim turns to Levi who is standing up straight with a frown on his face. “And you Sergeant Bradford? Did you make out like a bandit?”
Levi holds out his bucket and Lucy sees he has just as much candy as June.
“Very good Sergeant.” Tim says. Levi beams at him and then they both skip off.
“I almost thought they were you.” Smitty says. “Mini Chen said you didn’t want to be me Bradford. I am offended.” He walks off before Tim can say anything. Lucy turns to Tim with an amused expression on her face.
“Next year?” She asks.
“No!”
***
“Your daughter is very persistent.” Angela says walking up to Tim. Ava is right behind her trying to mimic Angela’s movements.
“You are just now realizing this?” Tim asks and then he turns to Ava. “Detective Lopez let me see your stash.” Ava holds out her bucket and Tim sees enough candy to last until Christmas. He then turns to Daisy.
“Officer Juarez?” He says. Daisy holds out her bucket and Tim sees the same amount of candy. They were going to have to do a lot of hiding of candy this year.
“Very good job.” He says. “Now it’s time to clock out and go home.”
“Yes sir!” They both say and they skip over to Lucy and the twins.
“Was she bugging you?” Tim asks. “She—”
“She was being Ava.” Angela says waving him off. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. You have some good kids Tim. They are creative, smart and loving.”
“I agree.” Tim says. He feels a burst of pride for his kids. Because no matter how crazy it got they would always be there to center him. To make him remember this was what life was all about.
“She asks a lot of questions.” A voice says behind Tim making him jump. “She’s talkative.” Tim turns to see Ava still holding her bucket of candy but her wig is askew. Tim turns to look at Angela and she just shrugs.
“Giving her a taste of her own medicine.” She says. Tim just shakes his head and ushers Ava towards Lucy, Daisy and the twins.
“Let’s get you home Detective Lopez. You have had a long night.” He says. Ava waves bye to Angela. The other three kids look tired and like they are ready to go home.
It wasn’t a long night but he had four happy kids. And he gets to go home with them and that’s all that matters.
***
“It wasn’t kind of flattering to have our kids dress up as us.” Lucy says. “I know Celina loved it.”
“Angela did too.” Tim says. “And who better to dress up as her than Ava?” Lucy laughs and rolls over to give him a kiss.
“I’m glad they have people to look up to.” She says. Tim nods in agreement. Their kids had a ton of people around them who they admired and loved. Angela, Nyla, Celina, Aaron and Grey. And even Miles was growing on them.
“Me too.” Tim says. “If something every happened to us they would have a whole village around them.”
“I agree.” Lucy says and she snuggles into his side. “Goodnight Sergeant Bradford.”
“Goodnight Detective Chen.”